Floor laying clamp



Dec. 16, 1958 c. L. HARRISON 2,864,581

, FLOOR LAYING CLAMP Filed Nov. 12, 1954 I /g l /9 ,8 /o 2/ 2 15 /7 25 22 mmvrog. Z Z mwnv.

E- 5 MATTOlNFX United States 2,864,581 FLOOR LAYING CLAMP Clarence L. Harrison, Syracuse, N. Y. Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,205 4 Claims. (Cl. 254-15) I secured to the underfloor structure by nailing. These prior devices have been complicated, costly and time consuming in their use.

This invention has as an object a floor laying clamp consisting only of two major parts of simple design and construction, whereby the clamp can be manufactured and sold at a low price and, because of its structural arrangement, the clamp can be quickly and conveniently used.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a floor clamp embodying my invention and illustrating the clamp in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the clamp initially positioned.

Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing the clamp actuated to clamp the floorboard against the one previously laid.

The clamp consists of an elongated handle member formed at one end with an offset portion 11 which is provided with a pivot point 12 adapted to be driven into the underfloor structure which may consist of a floor joist or sub-floor 13.

The clamp further includes a jaw member 14 mounted on the under side of the handle in proximity to the offset portion 11. The jaw member 14 is formed at one side edge with a recess or groove 15 to receive the tongue 16 of the floorboard 17 being positioned for nailing.

The jaw 14 is pivotally mounted upon a stud, and has movement thereon, transversely of the handle. As shown in Figure 1, the stud consists of a screw 18 threaded into the handle 10 and fixed thereto, as by locknut 19. The jaw is formed with an elongated aperture 20 to receive the stud 18. The slot or aperture 20 is formed in a flange 21 extending laterally from the side of the clamp opposite to that in which the groove 15 is formed. The width of the slot 20 is greater than the diameter of the stud 18, so that there is clearance between these members. A roller 22 is journalled upon the stud and engages the rear side of the jaw.

In operation, the jaw 14 is positioned against the outer edge of the board 17, and with the handle extending in angular relation to the edge of the board, the pivot point 12 is driven into the underfloor structure. This arrangement is shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thereupon, the handle 10 is moved about the pivot 12 and acts, through the roller 22, to cam the jaw member 14 against the board 17, crowding or pressing this board against the previous laid board 25. Thereupon, the board 17 may be secured in this position by nailing.

atent 0 ice The flange 21 is preferably positioned above the roller 22, and the under side of the jaw 14 is positioned substantially in the plane of the under side of the offset portion 11.

Subsequent to the pivotal movement of the handle, the pivot point 12 is readily removable from the underfloor structure. It has been found in practice that the workman can soon estimate the initial angular position of the handle 10, in comparison to the width of the crack 26 between the boards 17, 25 whereby, when the handle is moved in position perpendicular to the floorboards, as in Figure 3, the clamp will function as a self-locking cam, holding the board 17 tightly against the board 25, permitting the workman to nail the board at points distant from each side of the clamp.

The important advantages of this clamp reside in the simplicity of its construction and the speed and ease with which it is operated, and also the minimum space it occupies in the workmans tool box.

What I claim is:

1. A floor laying clamp comprising a handle having a pivot point at one end adapted to be driven into the under floor structure, a stud mounted on the handle in proximity to said pivot point and extending from the handle downwardly toward the underfloor structure, a floorboard engaging jaw pivotally mounted on said stud and having movement thereon transversely of the handle, and a roller journalled on said stud and engaging said aw.

2. A floor laying clamp comprising a handle having a pivot point at one end adapted to be driven into the underfloor structure, a jaw member formed with a groove in one side for receiving the tongue edge of the floorboard being laid, said jaw member being also formed with a flange extending laterally from the opposite side thereof, said flange being formed with an elongated aperture extending parallel to said groove, a stud fixedly mounted to the handle and extending downwardly therefrom in proximity to said pivot point and extending through said aperture, and a roller journalled on said stud and engaging said opposite side of the jaw member.

3. A floor laying clamp comprising a handle member provided with a pivot point at one end adapted to be driven into the underfloor structure, a stud fixedly mounted to the handle and depending therefrom in proximity to said pivot point, a roller journalled on said stud in spaced relation to the handle, a floorboard engaging jaw member having a flange extending between said roller and the handle in parallel relation to the under floor, said flange being provided with an elongated aperture for receiving said stud.

4. A floor laying clamp comprising a handle formed with an offset portion at one end provided with a pivot point adapted to be driven in the underfloor structure, a stud fixedly mounted to the handle and depending therefrom in proximity to said oflset portion, a jaw member pivotally mounted on said stud and having movement thereon transversely of the handle, the under sides of said jaw and oflset portion being substantially coplanar, said jaw having a side edge engageable with the floorboard being laid, and a roller journalled on said stud and engaging the opposite side edge of said jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Graham Jan. 6, 1953 

